Medical marijuana #1

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In the process of obtaining my medical marijuana card. This is due to the constant pain I have every day that seems to be incurable. As of right now I have to live with the pain because I refuse to rely on opioids to make it through the day.

Happy Gimpiversary to me!

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I can’t believe that yesterday, August 18, marked nine years since my accident. Some days it seems like just yesterday, others it feels like a completely different life. Here’s a video I made yesterday. Hope everyone reading this out there is doing well. Thank you for continuing to follow me despite my lack of posts. I will try to do better!

In the meantime…

First Video In a Long Time

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Hopefully some of you out there are still following! Sorry I am all over the place and seemed distracted. I was actually kind of nervous making this because it feels like it’s been so long. Either way, I’m back…

Standing Wheelchair!

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Hello everyone! I feel like I’m constantly apologizing because of my neglect as a blogger, but I have really amazing news!

I’m very happy to say that I’m currently sitting in the wheelchair so many of you have been fighting for me to get! Luckily we found the initial quote I received ($60,000+) was the retail price. We had to pay over $20,000 out of pocket. This was for the standing feature, as well as a few other really great things, that insurance did not cover.

Receiving this wheelchair was only possible because of your hard work, kindness and generosity Thank you for your time and donations to Aaron’s Journey. I’m fortunate to have you all.

This was a big chunk of money to come from my fund. There are on-going monthly expenses that my insurance doesn’t cover. Please keep your eyes open for future fundraisers and if anybody has any good ideas for fundraising, let me know.

Thanks again from the bottom of my heart. More pictures and maybe even a video to follow soon! In the meantime, please click on the link right under this paragraph that says ‘standing wheelchair’.

Standing wheelchair

Walk for Aaron – New Fundraiser!!

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My Dad’s EAHS graduating Class of 1975 has decided to have this walk the same weekend their alumni are in town for their class reunion. Thank you so much to them, the Elizabethtown Masonic Village and all sponsors. Below please find a PDF including all the information about the walk, including a registration form. Thanks again to everyone involved and to those who will be walking!

EAHS Class of 1975 border

Six Years

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Today, August 18, 2015, marks six years since the accident. It’s hard to believe that much time has passed but on the other hand, sometimes it feels like it’s been much longer. I really appreciate that my Uncle Curt started this website in the first place. Then it was a great place for people to come and check on my progress from reading posts that my family and friends would leave. Who would’ve thought it would turn into my own blog?

I’ve come so far in these six years which was only possible because of God and the countless people that have come to my aid when I needed them the most. From those people, my family has undoubtedly and unselfishly given the most. A simple thank you to everyone doesn’t quite seem like it does justice for what I feel, but I really can’t quantify it!

So, here’s to the next six years and whatever it may bring. There’s no doubt – we will be ready!

Hello!

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Hello everyone! I’m sorry I’ve been away for so long. Thank you so much for those of you who have, continue to or just started following my journey. It means the world to me and I apologize that I’ve not done my part in keeping up with this blog. I will try to do my best to keep you updated. I just wanted to write a short message, so that’s it for now. Please check back shortly for a new message from myself and fundraiser October 10!

Talk soon!

All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast – $5.00!

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This Saturday, May 16 from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM, there’s going to be an all you can eat pancake breakfast for only $5.00!  This will be held at the Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682 in Elizabethtown.  Proceeds will go directly to my fund, Aaron’s Journey.  If you are interested in making a donation because you cannot attend, you may do so at the following link – http://www.aaronwood.us/?page_id=38, or just simply look to the left side of the screen and click where it says, now accepting donations.

All money raised will go towards my goal of hopefully someday being able to afford a very much needed standing wheelchair.  They are around $60,000 and insurance will not help cover any of the cost.

Thank you so much for reading!  Hope to see some of you there.

Aaron

 

December 20th Fundraiser

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So excited about a fundraiser that a friend from high school, Jarrett, has put together.  It will be held at the Blue Ridge Country Club, December 20, starting at 5:00 PM.  Tickets are $40.00 and may be purchased at his foundation’s website, http://www.judyselvesfoundation.com/.  They are going fast from what I understand!  If you’re interested, please purchase yours as soon as possible.  We would love to see you there!

Information about the fundraiser – http://www.judyselvesfoundation.com/event-information/

Please check it out, as well as the meaning behind what Judy’s Elves stands for and the importance to Jarrett.

Thank you for your support!

AbleThrive

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I’ve been lucky enough to become friends with Brittany Martin over the past few months.  She is the founder of AbleThrive (http://blog.ablethrive.com/about), an online support network for those with disabilities, their friends, families and so on.  This is still relatively new and constantly growing but even so, I think it’s a great source for those of us living a disabled life!

Brittany has asked me to contribute to the site by writing a weekly blog.  Hopefully the readers find this interesting and sometimes helpful.  I’m personally very excited and thankful for the opportunity!  Here’s a link to my first attempt!

http://blog.ablethrive.com/post/100081523604/4-tips-to-dating-online-with-a-disability

 

ScentsyHaley Burns is hosting 2 catalog party fundraisers for Aaron’s Journey: Scentsy & Gold Canyon Candles. Both parties will close on October 27th!

For more information about these fundraisers, go to the event notification on Facebook. You do not need to be a Facebook member to visit this page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/357056304452660/?ref=22

Aaron has participated in an aggressive therapy program at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury (ICSCI) at Kennedy Krieger in Baltimore. He works on a home therapy program ICSCI developed for him. Initially diagnosed as an “ASIA A”, the worst possible injury (ASIA E indicates normal function), he has progressed to “ASIA C”. This means that his body is trying to recover the neurological connections it needs for his muscles to work again.

ICSCI is a one of a kind, cutting edge program, only partially covered by Aaron’s insurance, so he incurs a good bit of out of pocket expenses. Much of the costly therapy and equipment Aaron needs is not covered at all. Aaron‘s wheelchair currently needs to be replaced. He recently had to replace the part of his chair that he uses to control the chair’s movement. Insurance did not pay for that; the cost was $2000. The new wheelchair Aaron needs assists him to rise to a standing position. This is beneficial as Aaron suffers from blood clots in his legs and standing and putting weight on his legs helps his circulation.

Aaron’s road to recovery is a long one and there are no guarantees. We thank you for standing with us in faith, prayer and support of this fundraiser so that we may assist with, and continue to hope for, Aaron’s recovery.

Hello!

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Hello everyone! I’m sorry that there has been such a gap in between posts. Everything has been going pretty good on my behalf, minus trying to fight off something right now. The Dr. thinks it’s a virus. I’m just glad it’s not pneumonia. Thank god I have not had that since July when I had my neck surgery. Speaking of surgery, everything is still going great regarding my baclofen pump. I had my two week follow-up last week when he took off the strips holding my incision together. He was very pleased and does not want to see me, unless there are any issues, for a year! I feel very fortunate. March 24, 2014 at 4:00 PM. Now if I can only remember that for a year!

I recently celebrated what was one of my coolest birthdays to date. Obviously everyone always looks forward to 16, 18 and 21 years of age for reasons I do not have to explain. You would think anything over 30 would be a little depressing, but I do not think I will have to worry about that for the rest of my life because I now share my birthday with my stepson. It was very cool to see him getting excited for his special day, and mine, as the time got closer. I have never been a big fan of my birthday but now I have a reason to be, if only for his sake! He recently took an interest in roller skating so this is what he wanted to do for his party. We did this the week before our birthdays and it was a lot of fun. On the actual day, we had family to our house for an amazing ice cream cake which Melissa made. I will never forget the first birthday I got to celebrate with Brock!

Unfortunately, or fortunately, I do not have too much else to report. I hope everyone is doing well and I will write again soon!

NCAA Tournament

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This is my favorite time of year! When the NCAA tournament begins! I love filling out multiple brackets to see how I do, although it’s normally not too great. I formed a group on Yahoo which is free and I invite all of you to join, no matter your skill/knowledge level. It’s free and should be fun. All you need is a yahoo account, which is free as well.

Please join in!

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/group/2960

Installed

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I now have a Baclofen pump. It feels a little weird. Something I will have to get used to overtime I’m sure. Not to mention that it is still swollen and my body is still adapting.

I was always such against having this because the idea of something foreign in my body is a little creepy. I already had some metal in my foot and more importantly my neck that I did not ask for. Going through with the surgery guarantees that this will be in my stomach area for the next 6 to 7 years, unless something happens to the device before hand. What a commitment. My spasms have just gotten too out of control, past the point of medication, and I was running out of choices. Being constantly hesitant about going out and wondering if you can enjoy yourself without spasming and needing pulled up gets old after a few years. I was obviously ready to take whatever steps necessary to do what I thought would improve my quality of life.

So, how did it go? According to the doctor, perfectly. According to me? I realize it’s very early, but so far, not a regret in the world! My mom picked me up from the hospital and from getting dressed, out of bed, getting into my wheelchair and leaving, the ride home to entering the house, no spasms! It’s unbelievable. It’s like I’m in someone else’s body. Unfortunately they just happen to be paralyzed as well! 🙂

That’s where we are right now. I’m sure just like with anything else there will be good and bad things to come of this. I will obviously be updating everyone as the time goes by and let you know of the changes I experience. I appreciate any of you that may have read my posts and prayed for me. I have no idea who even follows this blogs anymore since I neglected it for some time. Hopefully some of you are still around and I can win you back! If only for 5 minutes a day!

Hope everyone is doing well and I will write soon!